KOHIMA, August 7: The woshinna (vice-chairman) of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), Khodao Yanthan, has urged the rank and file of his organisation to "appreciate the difficulties" faced by the Indian government due to internal problems and to have patience and yet be persistent in the search for solution of the Naga political issue. He also assured that "the struggle of the Naga people for recognition of our sovereignty has come to the last stage". Khodao, said, "I am convinced that it will be sooner than later that we shall see the light of the day". The NSCN leader his homecoming after a long gap was mainly to be with the cadres and to interact with the general public as far as possible. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 8, 1999)

SILCHAR, August 7: The Cachar district administration has urged the Assam government to deploy the Army in the Cachar-Manipur border area of North Cachar Hills, as Naga, Hmar, Manipuri and Muslim "terrorist" groups have stepped up their activities in the area in recent times. The administration has also urged the state government to strengthen the police and paramilitary forces immediately as the intelligence sources had cautioned that the militants had chalked out a plan for a massive offensive on August 15. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 8, 1999)

AGARTALA, August 9: The Union home ministry has asked the Tripura government to make all-out efforts to locate the four Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) activists who were kidnapped by the National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) rebels from Dhalai district on August 6. Official sources said here that the Union home secretary Kamal Pande had telephoned the state chief secretary V Tulsidas and inquired about the latest developments. The Union minister of state for communication, Kabindra Purakayastha, also had a telephonic talk with the chief minister, Manik Sarkar, who apprised Purakayastha of the state government's initiative to rescue the RSS members. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 10, 1999)

FATHERAGARTALA, August 10: Insurgents of the banned National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) have kidnapped the 75-year-old father of a former minister even as massive search operation is on to trace out the four leaders of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) who were abducted by the outfit on Friday last. Khetra Mohan Debnath, father of former CPI(M) minister Ranjit Debnath, was kidnapped from his residence at North Ekcherra village under Natunbazar police station in South Tripura district last night, the police said. A group of about 20 insurgents armed with sophisticated weapons raided the house and first caught the younger brother of the former minister but released him as he identified himself as servant of the house. The ultras then dragged the 75-year-old ailing Khetra Mohan from the bed and left the area. The police and Assam Rifles have launched a search operation in the area to rescue him. So far, no one has been arrested in this connection. Meanwhile, the four RSS leaders who were kidnapped by the NLFT from Dhalai district on Friday last remained untraced even as search operations were on to rescue them. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 11, 1999)

KOHIMA, August 11: Security has been tightened throughout Nagaland following threats of boycott of the Independence Day celebrations by underground groups all over the region. Senior defence officials said the security forces were in constant touch with the state police at various levels and had chalked out a coordinated plan to celebrate the day peacefully. However, they hoped that like earlier years, the day would pass off peacefully. Sources said the people had welcomed the recent extension of the ceasefire between the Union government and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim from August 1 and were looking forward to a negotiated settlement of the Naga political issue. Sources said the government was worried at the escalation of tension in some areas of the state among various underground factions. Ultras were moving with arms leading to some stray incidents in different parts. The sources said there was tension in some areas following the movement of armed cadres and possibility of factional clashes could not be ruled out. The situation was sensitive in the entire Chakhesang area, particularly the Chazouba area of Phek district, parts of Mokokchung and Tuensang districts, the capital town and the industrial town of Dimapur due to presence of armed cadres of various factions. Sources said the ultras' intention was to extend their areas of influence from where they could collect illegal taxes. Reports of forcible collection by some uniformed armed cadres were pouring in, which forced the security forces to establish some posts to maintain law and order. (United News of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 12, 1999)